Cardiff 21-15 Scarlets: URC opener player ratings

Cardiff opened their United Rugby Championship season with a 21-15 victory over the Scarlets in Llanelli.

Match overview

Corniel van Zyl's side outplayed the Scarlets in the second half, with tries from Dan Thomas, Taine Basham and Evan Lloyd, plus a combined six points from the boots of Callum Sheedy and Jarrod Evans, sealing the win. Joe Roberts and Blair Murray scored the Scarlets' tries, while Gareth Anscombe and Joe Hawkins contributed five points from the kicking tee.

Scarlets player ratings

15. Blair Murray 8 - The Wales full-back enjoyed a fine game, dangerous with ball in hand and showing a devastating turn of pace to score the Scarlets' second try. His kicking out of hand was also good.

14. Ellis Mee 6 - The Wales international looked decent whenever he had the ball without setting the world alight. Strong in defence with one great defensive read in the second half followed by a jackal at the breakdown which won his side a penalty. But will rue his decision to try to keep the ball in play from a kick late on which denied his side an attacking opportunity in the final minutes.

13. Joe Roberts 6 - The 26-year-old put in a solid performance. Roberts did well to hold onto an offload from Sam Lousi to claim the game's opening try.

12. Eddie James 8 - The Wales centre was excellent back in his best position of inside centre and proved a handful for Cardiff to deal with. James carried extremely well, always making significant post-contact metres, and made 15 tackles. He is a huge impact player and Wales must start James at 12 this season instead of 13.

11. Macs Page 6 - Started strongly with a few powerful carries in midfield and looked dangerous with ball in hand. There was also a huge tackle on Taine Basham in the second half. Unfortunately he did not see enough of the ball in the second 40 minutes.

10. Gareth Anscombe 6 - The experienced Wales international controlled the game well and got his backline going. He did miss touch from a penalty in the first half but on the whole this was a solid showing from the 35-year-old.

9. Dane Blacker 7 - The 28-year-old was one of the Scarlets' better players. He made a cracking break from the base of the ruck which set up the Scarlets' first try while he kicked well out of hand. Blacker tried to play with tempo but did not have the platform in the second half.

8. Osian Williams 6 - A solid showing for the 20-year-old on his first competitive start in the professional game. Williams is a workhorse who put in 16 tackles while he also offered himself as a carrier.

7. Josh Macleod 7 - The Scarlets captain put in a huge defensive shift and finished as the game's top tackler with 28. He worked hard at the breakdown but couldn't quite find an opening to win a turnover.

6. Sam Lousi 6 - The 35-year-old was a good source of lineout ball at the back of the lineout while he put himself about around the park. His sensational offload put Joe Roberts over for the Scarlets' opening try.

5. Harvey Cuckson 5 - Cuckson was the Scarlets' main source of lineout ball while he made seven tackles. But according to Rugby Pass he didn't carry the ball once and he needs to impose himself more moving forward.

4. Will Evans 5 - A first senior start for the Wales U20s lock who has a big future in the game. Evans worked hard and made five carries but it will take time for him to find his feet at this level.

3. Henry Thomas 5 - The Scarlets scrum was a mixed bag but Thomas used all his experience to make sure the Scarlets had parity for the most part. The 35-year-old made four tackles and two carries.

2. Ryan Elias 7 - Elias put in a strong shift on his 200th appearance for the Scarlets. He threw in accurately to the lineout while he carried very well and was an extremely physical presence throughout. Things went downhill after he left the field.

1. Sam O'Connor 5 - The 24-year-old was hit and miss at the scrum but he conceded a penalty in front of his own posts which eventually led to Cardiff's first try. But he worked hard around the park.

Scarlets replacements

16. John McKee 4 - There were a few lineouts which malfunctioned while he gave away a penalty at the maul which directly led to Evan Lloyd's winning try.

17. Josh Morse 5 - Very hit and miss. There's definite potential there and he made a couple of powerful carries. But he gave away a couple of scrum penalties and there were too many errors.

18. Gabe Hawley 5 - Hawley showed some promise at the scrum but it will take time for him to find his feet at this level.

19. Alex Groves 5 - A solid showing and worked hard but no big moments.

20. Tristan Davies 5 - Davies was decent at the lineout and worked hard but little impact.

21. Archie Hughes 6 - Hughes tried his best to get the Scarlets back into the game but the platform just wasn't there.

22. Joe Hawkins 5 - Kicked a penalty to put the Scarlets back into the lead but there was a costly error late on when he lost the ball in contact.

23. Ioan Jones N/A - Unused.

Cardiff player ratings

15. Cam Winnett 6 - Winnett looked good with ball in hand and made some good decisions. But he was outplayed by Blair Murray for the most part.

14. Jacob Beetham 7 - The 25-year-old was very strong under the high ball and was dangerous with ball in hand hitting some good angles in attack. Beetham caused the Scarlets a lot of problems and was strong in defence.

13. Le Roux Malan 7 - An impressive competitive debut for the Namibian international. Malan was a threat with ball in hand and got on the outside of the Scarlets defence on more than one occasion. He looks like he will be an asset for his new club.

12. Ben Thomas 7 - The Wales international had his hands full dealing with the explosive and powerful Eddie James but he acquitted himself well. Thomas' distribution was top class at times as he put his outside backs into space.

11. Mason Grady 7 - The Wales wing was very prominent during his time on the field. Grady carried very well and made significant post-contact metres. He also put in a strong defensive shift and competed well in the air.

10. Callum Sheedy 7 - The 30-year-old controlled the game well while his kicking out of hand was very good. Sheedy thinks outside the box and offers a great deal in attack. He will be a key player for his side this season.

9. Johan Mulder 8 - The South African scrum-half's game management was very good in the second half. Mulder kicked well out of hand while his service was good and he took the right option on most occasions. Played a pivotal role in Taine Basham's try on the stroke of half-time.

8. Taine Basham 9 - The Cardiff No 8 picked off where he left off last season with an outstanding all-round performance. Basham carried superbly well, making more carries than any other player on the field (17), and claimed a well-deserved try. The 26-year-old was also very physical throughout.

7. Dan Thomas 8 - The man from Carmarthen was a constant thorn in the Scarlets' side and claimed his side's opening try. Thomas put in a huge defensive shift making 11 tackles while he carried well and was good at the breakdown.

6. Alex Mann 7 - The 24-year-old succeeded in getting under the skin of the Scarlets and played havoc with Gareth Anscombe. Mann was into everything at the breakdown and put his body on the line throughout.

5. Teddy Williams 9 (Star man) - Taine Basham won the official player of the match award but Teddy Williams is WalesOnline's star man. He was the best player on the field, making huge metres whenever he carried the ball while his offloading from the point of contact was exquisite at times. Williams has the skillset of an international centre while he was outstanding at the breakdown. This performance will have excited Steve Tandy.

4. Josh McNally 8 - The former England lock has been such a fine signing by the Welsh club and he was excellent at Parc y Scarlets. McNally was very effective at the maul and carried well while he imposed himself physically throughout.

3. Javan Sebastian 6 - The Scotland international did not have it all his own way but he just about got the upper hand over Sam O'Connor at scrum time. His scrum penalty in the Scarlets 22 set the platform for his side's opening try.

2. Liam Belcher 8 - The Cardiff captain put in a strong performance. He ensured the lineout ran smoothly while he carried very well and put in some bone-crunching tackles.

1. Scott Sio 6 - The scrum was a bit hit and miss but Cardiff edged it. Sio's experience was an important factor in Cardiff's victory while he went well around the park.